Delhi Commonwealth Games in doubt after Mumbai mayhem

London/New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) The terror attacks in Mumbai have raised serious doubts about New Delhi hosting the 2010 Commonwealth Games, an official said Tuesday.Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Michael Hooper told the British media that India’s security situation was being monitored and there was the possibility of the 2010 event being shifted to another country.

“Security is a major issue. What is disturbing is that this (trend) has been continuing for the last nine months. In that backdrop, we continue to assess the situation, although we have not taken a definitive position. We have our own security consultants who would continue to monitor the situation in the country,” Hooper said.

“Even before the Commonwealth Youth Games (held in Pune, 160km from Mumbai, in October), we held discussions at the highest level with the government and shared detailed information with them, as the serial bomb blasts in Delhi had taken place only a few weeks back.”

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA), however, said there was no threat of the Games being shifted from India.

“There is no threat of India losing the Commonwealth Games. The government will provide top class security for the event,” IOA general secretary Randhir Singh told IANS.

“The security will be as good as the Beijing Olympics and other international events.”

India is the second Asian country to win the rights to host the Games after repeated failed bids.

Doubts have also been raised on the terror-prone subcontinent hosting the 2011 cricket World Cup and the issue will be raised by Cricket Australia in the International Cricket Council’s meeting in Cape Town this week.